Mangifera plant named &#39;302216THOM&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Magnifera  cultivar named ‘302216THOM’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique tolerance for cold and resistance to fungal diseases. Fruit has typically bright gold skin and juicy with very little fiber. The new variety is a  Magnifera , suitable for the production of fruit.

Latin name of the genus and species: Magnifera indica.

Variety denomination: ‘302216THOM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Magnifera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Tim Thompson, in Camarillo, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Magnifera indica varieties with greater resistance to diseases and cold temperatures. The open pollination resulting in this new variety occurred during 1996.

The seed parent is unknown, as the inventor bulk collected seed as part of an open pollination breeding program consisting of several potential seed and pollen parents, all of which are Magnifera indica varieties. The new variety resulted from seed planted in 1994. The inventor observed the seedlings during several seasons, and made a final selection of ‘302216THOM’ during 2008 at a non-commercial nursery in Camarillo, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by grafting vegetative cuttings onto Magnifera indica ‘Turpentine’. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in Ventura County, Calif. in May of 2013 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘302216THOM’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘( )’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘302216THOM’ as a new and distinct Magnifera cultivar:

-   -   1. Good adaptation to Southern California growing conditions.     -   2. Tolerance for cold to approximately 28° F.     -   3. Resistance to powdery mildew.     -   4. Rich gold colored skin of the fruit.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

As the actual parents are unidentifiable, the inventor is unable to make any comparison.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘302216THOM’ are comparable to the variety Magnifera ‘Kent’, unpatented. The two Magnifera indica varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, plants of the new variety ‘302216THOM’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety can survive cold temperatures that         would damage or kill similar aged plants of ‘Kent’.     -   2. Blossoms of the new variety are much less susceptible to         powdery mildew than those of ‘Kent’.     -   3. The new variety reliably produces a fruiting crop in Southern         California, whereas plants of ‘Kent’ are not known to reliably         produce fruit under the same environmental conditions.     -   4. Skin color of fruit of the new variety is typically rich gold         color, whereas skin color of fruit of the variety ‘Kent’ is         normally green on most fruit.     -   5. When grown in shaded conditions, the fruit skin color of         ‘Kent is green, whereas ‘302216THOM’ produces a fruit with a         rich gold skin color even when grown under the shaded canopy of         the tree.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘302216THOM’ are comparable to the variety Magnifera ‘Haden’, unpatented. The two Magnifera indica varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, plants of the new variety ‘302216THOM’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety can survive much colder         temperatures that would damage or kill similar aged plants of         ‘Haden’.     -   2. Blossoms of this variety are relatively unaffected by powdery         mildew while blossoms of ‘Haden’ suffer fungal damage especially         during our cool, damp Spring weather.     -   3. The new variety reliably produces a fruiting crop in Southern         California, whereas plants of ‘Haden’ do not reliably produce         fruit under the same environmental conditions. ‘Haden’ is         typically does well in South Florida and Mexico conditions.     -   4. Skin color of fruit of the new variety is typically rich         gold. Skin color of fruit of ‘Haden’ is typically golden with a         strong red blush.     -   5. The variety ‘Haden’ is known to have significant         susceptibility to fungal diseases. The new variety is         significantly more tolerant of fungal diseases than ‘Haden’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in:

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical fruit of ‘302216THOM’.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘302216THOM’ plants grown outdoors in Camarillo, Calif.

During the Summer months of June, July and August, the average daily high temperature is approximately 85° F. During Spring and Fall months, the daily high temperature averages about 70° F. During the Winter months of December, January, February and the first half of March the average high temperature is about 60° F. During rainy or stormy weather the daily high is about 50° F.

During the Summer months of June, July and August, the average night time temperature is about 60° F. During the Spring and Fall months, the average night time low is about 50° F. During the Winter months of December, January, February and the first half of March, the night time temperature lows range between 35° F. to 40° F. After a Winter storm moves through the area, the night time low temperature has been recorded at between 26° F. to 30° F. at the growing location during the past 30 years.

The long term precipitation records have averaged 49 cm per year in the growing area. During most of the year, the area has bright, sunny weather with brief periods during the Spring and Fall months of foggy weather. The soil is a sandy loam with good drainage. Fertilizer is a minimal, low rate, balanced organic mix. No pesticides or fungicides have been used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Magnifera indica ‘302216THOM’. -   Plant: -   Age of plant described: Approximately 20 years. -   Vigor: This mango variety exhibits good vigor with strong support     branches and supports a good mango crop. -   Approximate growth rate: 90 to 120 cm of new growth per year,     depending on the Summer growing season's weather. -   Quantity of growth flushes per year: 90 to 120 cm good growth     flushes per year depending on the year's weather. -   Mean length of new shoot growth: The growth flushes vary in length     in association with the weather. Spring flush shoots will be about     30 to 35 cm in length. During the warm Summer months the new growth     flushes will be from 41×61 cm in length. -   Height and spread: 20 years old tree is approximately 5 meters tall     and to 4 meters wide. -   Trunk circumference: Approximately 24 cm at the base. -   Trunk color: Near RHS Greyed-Green 198 C and 198A. -   Trunk texture: Rough at the base, with bark ridged approximately 2     cm deep. Gradually becoming mainly smooth at upper trunk. Upper     trunk with minor vertical ridges. -   Branches:     -   -   Branch diameter at the base.—Approximately 10 to 20 cm.         -   Branch length.—Approximately 100 to 200 cm.         -   Branch texture.—Primary branches and scaffold branches             mainly smooth.         -   Branch color.—Near RHS Grey 201A, 201B and 201C.         -   Lenticels.—Not observed. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity per branch.—Typically 20 to 30.         -   Average leaf length.—Average range 15-20 cm.         -   Average leaf width.—Average 5 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaf aspect.—Slight downward curve. Strong undulation             occurring at mid point, and/or apex.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte Color: Young foliage             upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 137C Young foliage under side:             Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146C Mature foliage upper side:             Near R.H.S. Green 137A Mature foliage under side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146D. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green             N144D.         -   Venation coloration under side.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green             N144B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 6 cm for mature foliage.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Flower: -   Inflorescence type and habit: Typical mango panicle/bunch.     -   -   Number of fruit per inflorescence.—Some inflorescences don't             set fruit. Those that do have varying numbers of fruit from             1 to 5.         -   Inflorescence length.—20 to 30 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter at the widest point.—15 to 20 cm.         -   Inflorescence rachis color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 160B.         -   Mean number of inflorescences per tree.—100 to 150.         -   Mean number of flowers per inflorescence.—From five hundred             to one thousand individual blossoms per inflorescence.         -   Date of first full blooms.—Late March to early April. -   Individual flowers:     -   -   General.—Individual blossoms are minute. Diameter of open             flowers: When fully open, approximately 7.5 mm. Percent             hermaphrodite flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 40%.             Percent male flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 60%.             Floral fertility: Normal, the subject tree is self-fertile.             Petals: Number of petals per flower: 5 Petal size: Length:             0.1 mm Diameter: 0.02 mm Petal texture: Slightly pubescent.             Petal shape: Ovate Petal color: Upper surface: Near RHS             Yellow 13D Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 13D Sepals: Number             of sepals per flower: 5 Sepal size: 0.1 mm Length: 0.05 mm             Sepal texture: Densely pubescent. Sepal shape: Ovate. -   Rachis:     -   -   Length.—Average 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Strength.—Very strong. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Shaped like small filaments. Stamen number in             hermaphrodite flowers: 5 Filament length: 0.05 mm Filament             color: Near RHS Yellow-White 158C Anther length: 0.05 mm             Anther shape: Ovate Anther color: Near RHS Yellow 10D Pollen             color: Near RHS Yellow 10A Pollen production: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Pistil number: 1 per flower Pistil shape: Elliptic             Length: 0.2 mm Ovary number: Single Diameter of ovary: 0.05             mm Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow 10D. -   Fruit:     -   -   Harvest time.—Fruit mature in late October through late             November.         -   General fruit characteristics.—Mature fruit is round in             cross section and rich gold in color.         -   Fruit yield.—Approximately 100 fruit on a 20 year old tree,             in a non-commercial setting.         -   Shipping and keeping characteristics of fruit.—Excellent             shelf life of two to three weeks if cold storage of 50° F.             is used. -   Mature fruit:     -   -   Length.—15 cm.         -   Width: 15 cm.         -   Shape.—Somewhat heart shaped.         -   Cross-sectional shape.—Round.         -   Average weight.—14 to 18 ounces.         -   Stalk cavity.—Nearly flat.         -   Skin texture of mature fruit.—Smooth and glossy.         -   Main color.—Near R.H.S. Yellow 13B and 13C, mottling near             Orange 26B, Blush near Orange-Red N34C, with dots near             N34A., both colors present.         -   Percentage of blush covering of fruit.—10% on upper surface             where touched by sunlight.         -   Skin thickness.—Approximately 1mm.         -   Adherence of flesh to skin.—Skin adheres strongly to flesh.         -   Lenticel spotting.—Infrequent. Approximately 1 mm diameter,             colored near Orange-Red 30D.         -   Fruit flesh texture.—Soft, juicy with very little fiber.         -   Fruit flesh color.—Near R.H.S. Orange 25A. -   Seed and endocarp:     -   -   Endocarp surface.—Rough texture, somewhat fibrous.         -   Endocarp surface color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 20C.         -   Endocarp plus seed dimensions.—Endocarp: 8 cm by 4 cm, seed:             5 cm by 2.5 cm.         -   Mean weight.—2 ounces.         -   Mean length.—9 cm×4 cm.         -   Seed color.—Near RHS Yellow 10C.         -   Seed size.—5 cm×2.5 cm. -   Other characteristics: -   Disease resistance: This mango variety has shown very good     resistance to fungal diseases. No other disease problems have been     observed to affect this variety. -   Temperature tolerance: This variety has been unaffected by Winter     low temperatures of 28° F. to 30° F. in the growing area. This     variety has also survived temperatures recorded at 26° F. for up to     eight hours with some frost damage to foliage and small branches. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Magnifera plant named ‘302216THOM’ as herein illustrated and described. 